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Olivia's brow furrowed in confusion, while Jackson's expression softened with understanding.
Charlotte continued, her eyes clouded with guilt, “Jackson, your mom made it clear she wanted no part of it, and your dad did his best to shield her. When Chuck, David and I first started uncovering the corruption within the council, we knew the risks involved.” Her voice filled with regret. “But then... then my Izzy was taken. And then your fathers were killed.
“I couldn't bear the thought of putting my girls in danger again,” Charlotte confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “So, I backed off. I didn't investigate as thoroughly as I should have.”
Olivia reached out, placing a comforting hand on Charlotte's shoulder. “You did what any mother would do,” she reassured her mother, her voice soft but firm.
Jackson nodded in agreement, his gaze filled with respect for Charlotte's sacrifice. “We understand,” he said gently. “And we'll do everything in our power to make sure no one else has to suffer like our families did.”
“Have you spoken to Lucy Harper?” Charlotte asked.
“Who is she?” Olivia asked.
“She works for the Gazette. She interviewed me for an article,” Jackson advised.
“She’s writing a piece about the history of Waverly Junction. More like an exposé about all the sordid rumors. I don’t know who her source is, but the few pages she showed me about the police department were accurate. She also said she has told enough people and mailed her pages to a New York editor to protect herself. The timing of the arsons and deaths does seem suspicious, especially with everything that happened back then. But with Lucy Harper writing a book, this could also be a smokescreen to divert attention away from something else.” Charlotte swiped some of her hair behind an ear.
“Like killing Jackson?” Olivia whispered.
Charlotte stared Jackson in the eye. “It's a theory worth considering. The phoenix on those vials... it could be symbolic. Rising from the ashes, starting anew. Maybe it's not connected to whatever happened twenty years ago at all.”
Jackson nodded, absorbing the information. “You think someone is trying to rewrite the more distant past, not necessarily the twenty-year past?”
“That's what we need to find out. You should both explore the timeline of Jackson’s life events. Look closely at what was happening in Jackson's life when these arsons started. His involvement in the community, his relationships. Think about any conflicts, any changes, anything out of the ordinary. Sometimes, the answers we seek are hidden in plain sight. Something happened just prior to the start of the deaths,” Charlotte said.
Jackson nodded. “So, you think there might be something in my past that's connected to all of this?”
“It's a possibility. Or something in the present.” Charlotte looked at Olivia. “You've been through a lot lately, and sometimes our past experiences can come back to haunt us in unexpected ways.”
“Mom's right, Jackson. We can’t leave any stone unturned in our search for the truth. If there's anything in your past that might be relevant, we need to know about it.”
Jackson took a deep breath. “Okay, I'll think back and see if I can remember anything significant. But what if I can't find anything?”
“Then we'll keep digging. We won't stop until we've exhausted every avenue of investigation. Together, we'll uncover the truth, no matter where it leads us,” Charlotte said.
Sixteen
Jackson and Liv drove back to his apartment. He headed into his bathroom to shower and finish getting ready for work. “Are you going to be alright?” He wiped the remnants of the shaving cream from his face.
Liv chewed the inside of her lip. “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Go on, don't be late for work.” She avoided a snappy comeback like, “What do you think I did before you were in my life?” Or, “Remember, I carry a gun for a living.”
He looked at her through the mirror. “I know, but... I just hate leaving you like this. It feels wrong.”
“I'll be okay, really. You've got responsibilities, Jackson. We both do. We can't let this consume us completely.”
Jackson nodded. “I just can't shake this feeling I should be here, helping you, figuring this out together.”
Liv placed her hand on his arm. “You're doing what you can. You're working, and I've got some leads to follow up on. We'll talk later and put our heads together, alright?”
“Okay. I just feel useless going to work while you're dealing with all this.”
Liv’s lips turned up. “You're not useless, Jackson. You need to keep the town from burning down. Now go on, get to work. I'll be fine.”
Jackson swallowed hard and gave her a gentle kiss. “Alright. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
Liv chuckled. “Same here.” She drove to her sister Isobel’s office and headed inside.
“Liv, what’s up? You still seeing Jackson Reynolds?” Her brow crooked.
